‘He’s crazy, Kay.’ She lowered her voice further. ‘He paces the room, talking to himself, and not just talking – having these heated arguments in two different voices. When I speak to him, he has this kind of fixed smile and glazed look. We went for a walk on the lake shore and he was asking me if my memories of this place make me sad and nostalgic, but I’ve never been here! It’s like he’s in an alternative world. And then there’s Jo.’

‘What about her?’

‘Another bruise.’

There wasn’t one, but she’d add one later.

‘On her left arm, this time.’ She paused, for dramatic effect. ‘He’s hurting her, Kay.’

‘You need to get out of there,’ Kay said.

‘I know, but I can’t leave him,’ Alice said. ‘What if he hurts himself? Or worse?’

‘You can’t think like that. You have to go.’

‘I need to get him some help. Professional help.’

‘There’s no doubt about that,’ Kay said. ‘But this has gone too far, Alice. You have to do something now.’

Alice took a deep breath. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘I’ll look into it tomorrow.’

She had one more call to make. She dialled the number and waited for someone to answer.

It was a man’s voice, gruff and deep and thick with a Cumbrian accent.

‘Hello?’

‘Hi there,’ she said. ‘I was calling about the boat on Craigslist?’

‘The dinghy?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Are you interested?’

‘I am. My husband and I are staying near Wast Water for a while. He’s keen on having something simple to mess about on the lake with.’

‘This ’un’s pretty small,’ the man said. ‘My kids learned to sail in it thirty years ago.’

‘It’s a sailing boat?’ Alice said. The listing had not specified that, and she did not know how to sail.

‘Used to be. The mast and rigging’s long gone. I used it for rowing out to my yacht on Windemere until I sold it.’

‘And it works?’

‘If you mean floats, yes. It’s pretty beaten up, but it’s fibreglass, so it’ll be around a while yet. There’s rowlocks and oars, so she’s ready to go.’

‘What, sorry?’ Alice said. ‘There’s something and oars?’

‘Rowlocks. Don’t worry. I’ll show you, if you’re interested.’

‘I am,’ Alice said. ‘Although let me confirm with my husband. It’s really him that wants the boat.’

‘I’m here tomorrow,’ the man said. ‘You can come and look then, if you’d like. And if he’s interested.’

‘I’ll tell you what,’ Alice said. ‘Let’s assume he’s OK with it. I’ll let you know if not. What’s your address?’

The man gave her an address in Ambleside. ‘Do you have transport?’ he said. ‘You’ll need a towbar.’